Forget what you’ve heard about Shark Tank magic turning every weird product idea into gold. Sometimes, the best brands walk on, get no deal, walk off — and still carve up the market later. The Bear & The Rat pitched frozen yogurt for dogs in Season 4, looking for a Shark to scoop up a stake. Didn’t get it. But that’s not the whole story. Ignore the highlight reel—if you care about real business wins (and the stumbles), this one’s worth your attention.
2. How The Frozen Dog Treat Concept Came Alive
Matt and Meg Meyer weren’t some venture-backed, Silicon Valley duo. They’re hustlers from Colorado who saw pet parents treating dogs like family and wanted to feed that obsession. Their hook? Chilled yogurt treats for dogs—clever, crazy, maybe both. The name The Bear & The Rat raises eyebrows. Simple backstory: Bear was their dog (RIP), Rat was their nickname for their other pup. Brands with a story stick. As a founder, you know—personality wins hearts, even in dog food aisles.
3. Shark Tank Pitch: Pitching the Dream Versus Reality TV
I’ll cut through the showbiz smoke for you: Matt and Meg rolled up asking $125,000 for 20%. That’s a $625K valuation for doggie frozen yogurt—confident, maybe to a fault. They brought live dogs, hoping for awws and viral moments. Instead, one dog bailed off Robert Herjavec’s lap in front of America (no one hurt, but social gold). The Sharks did their thing, sniffing the treats—literally. Human palates weren’t thrilled, but that wasn’t the target customer anyway. Meanwhile, the founders flexed real numbers: $30,000 in sales so far, talks with Petco in the works.
Here’s the truth: most founders freeze when the Sharks start poking holes. The Meyers kept selling. That alone is rare.
4. Net Worth and Money Stats: Where’s The Bear & The Rat Now?
Let’s forget TV drama and get into the money. This is what SharkWorth readers really care about.
After Shark Tank aired, sales took off. By 2019, Whole Foods rolled out their yogurt nationally. Publix too. Over 3,000 independent pet stores carry them. As of 2022, revenue clocked in at about $5 million a year. Their company’s valuation sits far above the ask they gave the Sharks. Want the headline? Being rejected on Shark Tank is not a business death sentence—if you know how to grind.
Matt and Meg didn’t pull Scrub Daddy numbers, but $5 million in revenue is real. The Bear & The Rat turned a no-deal into a multi-million-dollar hustle with broad distribution and strong growth. That’s worth more than most we got a deal headlines ever deliver.
5. Sharks’ Feedback: Why Didn’t Anyone Bite?
Time to call out the power dynamic in the Tank. Here’s how the Sharks broke it down:
- Daymond John: Out, no hesitation. Didn’t see the market.
- Mark Cuban: Passed. Said the valuation was way too high (seen that before, right?).
- Kevin O’Leary: Niche too tight, not enough upside. Typical Mr. Wonderful math.
- Lori Greiner: Liked the people, but not the product category.
- Robert Herjavec: Loves dogs, but thought the ask wasn’t right for his wallet.
No one takes the bait, but don’t mistake their no as a prophecy. Sometimes, the Sharks get it wrong. I’ve watched founders get burned for asking too much too early. Were Matt and Meg a little bullish? Sure, but if you’re not bold at this stage, you disappear into the noise.
6. Growth Beyond TV: How They Scaled Up the Hard Way
Here’s where entrepreneurs should really pay attention: what you do after the show separates the quitters from the winners. Matt and Meg didn’t slink home wounded. They rode the Shark Tank spotlight. Retailers came calling—starting with Whole Foods locally, then nationwide. Publix hopped in, too.
More than 3,000 independent U.S. pet stores now put their product on ice. No VC war chest. Just hustle, calls, samples, trade shows, and every in-store promo you can imagine. This is where most founders fail: follow-up. Without ABC’s cameras, you’ve still got to do the dirty work. The Meyers didn’t have a deal, but they played a Bombas move: using TV exposure to prove traction and break into the big leagues.
7. Product Line: What’s in the Freezer Besides TV Hype?
A lot of Shark Tank products live and die on hype—six months later, they’re liquidation fodder. Is The Bear & The Rat different? Here’s what you get:
- Frozen yogurt dog treats with probiotic cultures.
- Flavors: Banana & Bacon, Bacon & Peanut Butter, Pumpkin, and more.
- Compact, fun packaging (their design gives BarkBox energy, not bland pet food vibes).
- Right-sized treat tubs for small and big dogs alike.
- Simple, transparent ingredients—no weird chemical names or junk.
Even skeptics (and plenty of Shark Tank fans) admitted the treats win over picky pups. There was a real wait; my dog actually loves this response. That’s the difference: repeated, enthusiastic customers. You don’t hit five-million-dollar revenue if pet parents aren’t coming back for seconds.
8. Lessons from the Bear & the Rat Journey
Let’s be honest: most brands fade when they don’t get a TV handshake. Not here. The Bear & The Rat nailed a few things aspiring founders should copy:
Use TV fame as a trampoline, not a trophy. Shark Tank didn’t give them cash, but it gave them customers—and they hustled to close retail deals themselves.
Brand story matters. Names with heart and backstory stick better than Premium Canine Chilled Dairy, Inc. Personal beats generic, every time.
Healthy skepticism, relentless pitching. When the market says nah, you pivot, reformulate, and keep showing up. The Meyers kept pitching even after the Sharks bowed out. Their social feeds in 2025 still talk about the Shark Tank day—not as a failure story, but as fuel.
Retail grind wins. Every shelf gained equals real revenue numbers. They tackled thousands of stores—most won one at a time.
Play the long game. Early-stage founders get hungry for a fast exit or viral moment. What worked was years of sticking with it and scaling bit by bit.
9. Conclusion: More Than a One-Show Wonder
The Bear & The Rat didn’t just survive Shark Tank rejection; they thrived because of what they did next. They’ve still got skin in the game, still leading as an independent, founder-driven company powered by hustle, not hype. If you’re building a consumer brand or facing a public no, study what Matt and Meg built. Sometimes, the best deals are the ones you don’t make on TV—they’re the ones you fight for in real life.
Care less about who got the handshake on air. Care more about who’s still on the shelves years later, winning customers and stacking revenue. That’s the real measure. That’s why The Bear & The Rat is still in the game—and why you, and I, should keep rooting for founders who can take a punch and then make the market theirs anyway.
FAQs
1. Is The Bear & The Rat from Shark Tank still in business?
Yep. Still hustling, still growing. Over 3,000 stores, and a brand pet parents swear by.
2. Did The Bear & The Rat get a deal on Shark Tank?
No, every Shark passed—even Robert Herjavec, the resident dog nut.
3. What’s the current net worth of The Bear & The Rat?
Around $5 million in annual revenue (as of 2022)—and climbing. Not bad for getting no’d on TV.
4. Where can I buy The Bear & The Rat products now?
Available in Whole Foods nationwide, Publix, and more than 3,000 independent pet retailers.
5. Who owns The Bear & The Rat?
Still run by founders Matt and Meg Meyer. No secret parent company—this is the real couple’s business.
6. How did Shark Tank help their business, even without a deal?
TV shoutout opened doors everywhere. Retailers called, consumers got curious. They did the rest, one deal at a time.
7. What makes The Bear & The Rat treats unique for dogs?
Frozen yogurt—pet-safe, probiotic, clean ingredients, fun packaging, creative flavors. Dogs actually eat this stuff.
8. Do the founders still talk about their Shark Tank experience?
Absolutely. They share behind-the-scenes moments on social media, keeping the journey relatable and alive for new fans.
If you want more real-world Shark Tank stats, come back to SharkWorth. We break it down for hustlers, not hype chasers.
